Clamping device



H. STODGELL CLAMPING DEVICE Use. 29, 1953 Filed May 20, 1952 INVEN TOR.HENRY 5 TODGEL L Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES rATENT OFFICECLAMPING DEVICE Henry Stodgcll, Seattle, Wash. Application May 20, 1952,Serial No. 288,800

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a clamping means and it has reference moreparticularly to a pair of identical spring steel clamps to be used incombination with a chalk line to hold the ends of the taut chalk line ina fixed position and wherein the clamps are adapted primarily to beremovably applied to opposite ends of a board A chalk line is commonlyused by carpenters, bricklayers and other workmen to mark a relativelystraight line of substantial length. The common practice is to drive anail or brad into the board or object to be marked and secure one end ofthe line to the nail and then drive another nail in the opposite end ofthe board and to draw the line tight and to secure it to the secondnail. The line is then chalked and the marking of the board is obtainedby raising the line and releasing it so as to strike the board anddeposit a portion of the chalk in a relatively straight line on theboard. After the marking has thus been accomplished, it is thennecessary to loosen the line and remove the nails from the board.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a clampin deviceto be used in combination with a chalk line to secure its ends and whichmay be easily and quickly applied to boards of varying thickness withoutrequiring the use of nails or other securing means for their secure-'ment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a line securing clampwhich may be applied to boards of varying thickness without requiringadjustment or alternation of the clamping means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clamping means whichmay also be secured to a flat surface, a wall or floor, or to timbers orother objects of substantial thickness.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a clamping devicewhich is small, easy to apply, simple in its construction and relativelyinexpensive in it cost of manufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clamping devicewherein means is provided for securing the line in taut condition by asimple and quickly performed operation.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction andin the relationship of the various parts as will hereinafter be morefully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects, I have providedthe improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof a pair of line clamping devices applied to opposite ends of a boardand a chalk line drawn taut between and held at its ends by the clampingmembers.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamping device embodyingthe features of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates the manner in which the clamping device may beapplied to a flat surface such as a wall or floor.

Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which the clamping device may beapplied to the end or side of a timber.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- In Fig. l, I have illustrateda board designated in its entirety by reference numeral II! andcomprising the side surfaces I Ila, and the top surface I00. Theclamping means which embodies my invention is designated in its entiretyby reference numeral I I and, as is illustrated in Fig. it is designedprimarily to be applied to a relatively thin board or sheet likematerial.

The clamping device is an integral unit formed from a single piece ofrelatively light gauge spring steel material. It comprises a base orbottom portion I2, and end wall I3 perpendicular to the bottom portion,and the top portion I4 extends at right angles to the end wall and issubstantially parallel to the bottom. The top portion is divided along acentral longitudinal line by a deep cut, V-shaped notch I5, into a pairof ears or flanges I4-'-I4', and it will be seen by reference to Fig. 2that the inner end or apex of the notch extends into the end wall I3.The specific purpose or reason for this construction will hereinafter beset forth.

To provide the clamping effect, I provide an upwardly extending andrearwardly curved clamping leg 20 which extends from the outer end ofthe base I2 toward the end wall I3. This clamping member is rounded intoa closed curl at its outer end as at 2| and terminates short of the endwall, and relatively close to the ears I4'I4' as noted in Fig. 3.

At the opposite ends of the end wall I3, I provide ears 22-22 whichextend in the same vertical plane as the end wall. These ears preferablyare rounded or curved on their edges as shown. Holes are provided in theears, as at 23, and a hole 24 is provided through the endwall I3 at acenter point.

The preferred distance between the base I 2 and top portion I4 is oneand one-eighth inch, and the clamping member 20 provides that the devicemay be applied to boards varying in thickness from approximatelyone-eighth of an inch to one inch and it is applied by merely causingthe end portion of the board to be received between the top portion I4and the clamping leg 20. If the device is applied to a board which, forexample, is three quarters of an inch in thickness, the clamping legwill be depressed or sprung downwardly to receive the board and willremain tightly clamped thereto.

As is illg'istratedin 1, a pair of clamping devices is hs'edlncombination, one clamping device being applied to each end of the board.The string or chalk line 30 is passed through the center hole 24 in theend wall I3 and a knot (not shown) is tied in the end of the line attnecutei side of the end wall. The opposite fend of the chalk line isdrawn through the hole, in the opposing clamping device and is baiisedto "be wound around the ear 22 as is illustrated in Fig.

1. With the chalk applied and the line drawn taati s arneaier may the se l i n permit it tosnap a tth board the contheneby providing a straightve tional manner.

In Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, I have illustrated its m nner of lis tsmo t e halkflirie clamping device to a wan and timber. In Fig, a in tan,5 iilmfl 1 ..-B .,W 1 .3 m lend :3 2p: credence fiany isposes againstthe wall surface and held in secured position by the application ofnails or brads whichlare projected mage th h les i je '.zi2- +22. Theline-en is seated in'the verse: of the V-s'haped'notch 5 and as preyiously stated, th V-shaped noth'eiitends eyorid the fiur'ifiture'"opfiortion Ti t and ,th n'clwall 13,]th1is' it 'g 'the chalk line to it1" 51; he wan, The line is lchalkediand 'tae wall s" V ,.to',be"in'arked in the same manner as indicated in marking a l 'w l '1: rhefslamtifis id vi ef s eam "t f .i m or an'ob'iet ,ofs'iib'staiitialthick ess-asi's illustrated .5 efna ailj stot flatly cc .6: the a realise me rs. ofgna'ils thr h 12-.- The line is drawn tight Hakim ventionalii'ianthi defin Tm yfeiso ight'lihe on a floor 01' an isieadilyf's'eenthat the jans i y 15, a pl ed ays .....,..1' i j 2 T hiiim l fi e iproperly'ih positioh 'formakinga line.

" Htiiiibelrin iii? usiyrstated Though my device is designed primarilyto be used to produce a chalk line marking, it is to be understood thatit may also be employed to temporarily secure a small line for varioususes, and to provide that the line may be readily removed when its usehas been terminated. The size of the device and relative proportions insize of its parts may vary as desired or required and the specific shapemay be altered without departing from the teaching of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1, A chalk line clamp comprising a metal strip time to form a bottomportion, an end wall, a top portion overlying said bottom portion andspaced thereirognand a resilient clamping leg extending upwardly andrearwardly from the outer edge ofthe bottom portion; said end wallhaving a hole therein through which one end portion of the chalk line ispassed, and ears projecting from the opposite ends of the end wallproviding means about which the end 'of the line, after passing throughthe hole in the end wall, may be remov ably secured. k

2. A combination as in claim 1 wherein the ears of theclam'p areprovided with holes therethrough to receive nails for thesecurement'o'fthe clamp to a wall. p v w 3. A chalk line clamp of the characterasfs'c'ribed comprising a single strip of relatively thin spring steelbent to form a 'bottom portion, an endjwall extending at right angles tothe bottom portion, a top portion extending at right angles to the endwalland overlying the bottom portion in spaced relationship therefrom,and 'a resilient clamping leg eitending upwardly and rearwardlyjfromtl'ie'outer edge of the bottom portion toward said 'endw all, said topporti'on'of the clamp having a 'V shaped notch forine'd thereinlongitudinally thereof and having the apex thereof extending intoth'etopedge portion of end wall, and said end wallh'aving'a'holetherethrough'directly below'the apex'oi the notch to receive the end portions "of achalk line therethrough. u Y

"HENRY STODGELL.

References Cited in the 'file of '-this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber 'Name Date ;!4TI;6 8;2 Bradin Dec.-22, 1%.! 1,017,390 DittriohFeb. '13, 1912 069,134 Hatzfeld Aug; 5, 191.3

